Fence-post



' (NoModeL) E. L. ALLEN.

FENCE POST.

Patented Oct. 26,1897.

UNITED STATES ATENT Erica.

ELIJAH LoUo1LIous LEN, or GIRARD, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR on ONE- HALF TO JAMES H. BROWN, on COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

FENC E- PlOST.

srncrmcAmon forming art a Letters Patent No. 592,680, dated October 26., 1897.

Application filed June 11, 1897- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIJ H LOUCILIOUS ALLEN, a citizen of the United St-ates, residing at Girard, in the county of Russell and State of Alabama,,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fence-posts, and more particularly to that class known as metallic fence-posts, i

It has been proposed heretofore to construct fence-posts of metal, but previous methods of construction are expensive,by reason of the fact that when cast according to the more common methods special molds are required for casting them, in order to form corrugations for strengthening the post and a proper face for securing the wires thereto, and also owing to the amount of metal which has to be used to make a post sufficiently strong to withstand the great strain to which it is subjected in use. Such posts are also objectionable on account of their weight, which prevents easy and quickhandling and requires a great amount of time inputting up a fence. Metallic posts have also been devised with specially-formed cuts or openings inwhich the wires are to be secured, butin such prior constructions a special form of binding is usually required to hold the wire, making it necessary to employ skilled labor. in setting up a fence. V

The primary objects of my invention are toprovide a light and inexpensive, yet strong and durable, metallic fence-post embodying in its construction all the advantages without the disadvantages which are incident to the manufacture and use of metallic posts as heretofore constructed.

The invention will first be'hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and thenpointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a post embodying my invention, showing the same in position in the uess toward the outer edges thereof.

Serial No. 640,297. (No model.)

the wires and other parts shown in the last-.

named figure, and Fig. at is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 with the fastening-pin removed.

A in the drawings denotes the post, which has a thin central portion or apex a and sides 13 and O, which gradually increase in thick- I Along the apex at are formed a number of V-shaped openings b, in which the wires forming the cesses or slots G to receive wooden bars for use in forming a picket fence. These slots, however, may be dispensed with. The post may be provided with a top D, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and a bottom E, and such a construction is preferably used for corner and gate posts where a stronger construction is desirable, owing to the additional strain that is put upon them.

In securing the wires to the posts in the construction of a fence they are first placed in the V-shaped openings 1) and forced therethrough by a punch or other suitable tool, by means of which the crimps'or loops may be formed to receivev suitable wedges, pins, or nails F, which are inserted behind the wires, between the same and the inside of the posts, so as to secure the wires to the posts and form an effective fastening. The ends of fence are placed, and also preferably with re these pins or wedges are preferably slightly 7 bent, as shown. The wires are held tight by binding in the V-shaped openings, and the .more tightly they are drawn into'or forced ICO bars or scantlings may be fitted in the recesses G for the attachment thereto of the palings, and may be secured to the posts by means of nails orscrews passing through said bars and through the openings 9 in the apex or angle aof the post between the shoulders g of said recesses.

In the manufacture of metal posts in accordance with my invention I preferably employ galvanized or other sheet steel, which may be rolled to form the thin central portion and then bent at the thin portion or longitudinal centerof the sheet or blank to form the sides 13 and O. The top and bottom may also be formed at the same time and struck up in a single piece with the body of the postor formed separate and attached thereto. The V shaped openings and notches are then formed in the apex by punching, cutting,or otherwise. The wires may be crimped or looped, if desired, before being applied by means of any suitable tools commonly used for this purpose.

Galvanized steel is preferablyemployed in the manufacture of the posts, as it is a good conductor of electricity, and the lightning will be carried direct to the ground and not along the wires, as in fences of this character in common use, and also because its great strength enables me to use a comparatively thin sheet to make a post sufiiciently strong to withstand great strain. 13y first rolling the sheet to form the thin central portion a better bend can be obtained, and it will require less labor to make the V-shaped openings and notches than when a thick center is used, and it also effects a saving of metal without materially lessening the strength of the post, as well as decreasing its weight for a given size. 7

The posts may be driven into'the ground the required depth when the bottom plate E is omitted; but when the top and bottom plates are used, as in the ease of corner and gate posts, they are planted in the usual manner instead of being driven.

The wires may be secured to the cornerposts in any convenient manner an d stretched 1n the ordinary way along the intervening posts.

I thus provide a metal fence-post which is light and easy to handle, and which may be manufactured at a small cost owing to its simplicity and the small amount of metal employed, and one which is adapted for use in making either wire or wooden fences.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a metallic fence-post having two sides arranged at an angle to each other; said sides being comparatively thin at the point of union or junction thereof and tapering or gradually increasing in thickness from said point toward their outer edges, so as to provide a thin portion at the apex orjunction of said sides; said thin portion being formed or provided with horizontally-arranged V-shapcd openings to receive the fence-wires, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a metaltic fence-post having two sides arranged at an angle to each other; said sides being comparatively thin at the point of union orjunetion thereof and tapering or gradually increasing in thickness from said point toward their outer edges, so as to provide a thin portion at the apex or junction of said sides; said thin portion being formed or provided with horizontally-arranged V-shaped openings to receive the fence-wires, and with recesses between said openings to receive horizontal bars for the construction of a paling fence, substantially as described.

3. As an article of manufacture, a metallic fence-post composed of galvanized steel having two sides arranged at right angles to each other; said sides bein com parativcly thin at the point of union thereof and tapering or gradually increasingin thickness from said point toward their outer edges, so as to provide a thin portion of metal at the apex or junction of said sides; said thin portion being formed or provided with a series of horizontally-arranged V-shaped openings to receive the fence-wires, the ends of the posts being formed or provided with a suitable cap and base or bottom plate, substantially as described.

4. A wire fence comprising a series of metallic posts having tapered sides arranged at an angle to each other and comparatively thin at the point of union orjunction of said sides and provided at said point with V-shaped notches oropenings, in combination with the wires extending from post to post and having crimps or loops therein projected through said openings, and wedges inserted between the wires and the inside of the posts so as to engage said crimps and hold the wires taut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIJAII LOUCILIOUS ALLEN.

Vitnesses:

JAMES II. BROWN, M. E. I'IAMMACK. 

